Even though Pennsylvania is the 11th safest state in the US, some of the most dangerous towns are in that state. Philadelphia is the biggest and most famous city in Pennsylvania. It does have some crime, but it’s not the worst. Many of Pennsylvania’s most dangerous towns are small, not very crowded, and not very noticeable.
The FBI says that Darby, a town of 10,667 people in Delaware County, is the most dangerous place in Pennsylvania. This number means that Darby is safer than only 4% of other towns in the US. There is a 1 in 70 chance that someone in Darby will be a victim of a violent crime, like an attack, rape, robbery, or murder. Darby also has a high rate of poverty (28.2%), which is linked to its high crime rate.
For what reason is Darby so dangerous?
The town of Darby has been having a hard time for a long time. It used to be a busy manufacturing center, but after the Great Depression, it went downhill and never got back up. Darby has had problems with crime, drugs, gangs, unemployment, and not having enough money.
The buildings and facilities are in bad shape and haven’t been taken care of in a while. There are also not enough tools and services in Darby, like police, schools, hospitals, and places to play. Darby has always had a problem with crime. It was named the second most dangerous city in Pennsylvania in 2015, after Chester.
It was named one of the 100 most dangerous towns in the US in 2018. In 2020, 152 violent crimes were recorded in Darby. These included 3 murders, 15 rapes, 46 thefts, and 88 assaults. There were also 328 property crimes in Darby, like theft, burglary, and car theft.
What is being done to make Darby safer?
Even though things are bad, Darby is not hopeless. Some steps are being taken to make the town a safer and better place to live. For instance, Darby got a $1 million grant from the state in 2019 to improve its downtown area and bring in new companies and people.
Darby also worked with the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office to start Operation Safe Streets, a program to stop crime that aims to make the town safer by reducing crime and drug trade. Along with that, there are some community groups and organizations that are trying to make Darby a better place.
For example, the Darby Borough Community Development Corporation (DBCDC) is a non-profit that helps people in Darby with a wide range of programs and services, such as mentoring kids, caring for seniors, a food pantry, and helping with housing. The DBCDC also plans events and activities to get people involved in their communities and bring people together.
In conclusion
Some of the problems and risks that come with living in Darby are also some of its strengths and chances. Even though Darby is the most dangerous city in Pennsylvania, it’s not the only one. Other towns in the state need help and attention because they have a lot of crime. Poor housing, unemployment, education, and health care are some of the things that can make Darby and other Pennsylvania towns safer and better places to live.
